Controlling instrument



v Sept. 6,1927;

1,641,944 E. H. BRISTOL CONTROLLING INSTRUMEfiT Filed July 21. 1926- Se t 1,641,944

p 192.7 E. H. BRISTOL CONTROLLING INSTRUMENT Filed July 21. 1926 3 Sheets-Shet 2 1,641 944 p 6, 1927- I E, H. BRISTOL CONTROLLING I NS TRUMENT 4 Filed July 21. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lii/venzorf Ezgai HBWZFLSZ OZ;

Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT ori-"lcrz.

EDGAR H. EBRISTOL, OF FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE FOXBORO COM- IPANY, OF FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS;

CONTROLLING INSTRUMENT.

Application filed July 21,. 1926. Serial No. 123,957.

My invention will be understood from the appended claims after consideration of the following description of the illustrative embodiment shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, of a control installation utilizing a form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the control instrument with the cover and dial plate removed; I

Fig. 3 is a, view on an enlarged scale of the governing mechanism which appears at the upper left hand portion of Fig. 2, as seen from the right in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is, an elevation, with parts broken away, of the control couple; and Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views, with parts in section, showing different positions of the control elements. 1

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have there shown diagrammatically an installation whereby the flow of-fluid in a conduit 7 is automatically controlled. Such flow of fluid is controlled by a valve 9 which may be operated by a servo-motor, herein shown as a diaphragm motor 11 operated by compressed air delivered through pipe 13, the arrow at the lower right hand side of the figure indicating the ingress of air.

The rate' of fiow in the conduit 7 may be controlled by operation of. the valve 9 in response to variations in the actual rate of may be measured by .means of an orifice plate 15 installed at the-downstream side'of the valve, from opposite sides of which plate the pipes 17 and 19 lead respectively to the flow of the fluid passing the same. The rate high and low pressure sides of a mercury U tube 21 which forms a part of an instrument of the float gage type and which may be of a construction substantially similar to that shown in my Patent No..1,592,415, dated July 13, 1926, and .which it will'be unnecessary to describe herein. The float in the high pressure side of the tube may operate (see Fig. 2) a shaft 23 on which is a crank 25 connected by a connecting'rod 27 to a parallel crank 29 (see Fig. 3) which is adapted to turn the shaft 31 of the recording pen 33 and which has a portion located at the further side of'control element 35, the latter mounted to swing about shaft 31 so that when the crank 29 moves'away from the reader in Fig. 3 it will permit the control element 35 similarly to move toward the cooperating 'control element 37 under the influence of a spring 39 and when the crank moves toward the reader it will retract control element 35 against the act-ion of the spring. The control element 35 includes a valve proper 41 which finds a seat on a nozzle 43 which forms a part of element 37,

the nozzle having an exhaust port or bleed for pressure fluid from the control head 45 (see Fig. 2). The general operation and construction of this control head and of the connections therefrom to the nozzle 43 may be as shown and described in the patent to Arnold M. D1xon,No. 1,582,868, dated April 27,1926, and need not be herein fully described.

the left in Fig. 2 and may make contact w1th the nozzle 43 so that the control valve couple is closed, ending the exhaust of air through the nozzle 43. The diaphragms 47 of the control head 45 then expand, cutting oil the supply of compressed air. from the pipe 13 to t e diaphragm motor 11 and per mitting the air in the motor to exhaust therefrom and thevalve 9'to-close. "As the rate of .flow of fluid in theconduit thereafter decreases, the valve 41 is moved toward the .right in Flg. 2, the valve couple 0 ens, air

exhausts from thenozzle 43 and 0m the J diaphragms 47 these diaphra s colla so an d ill

scribed the operation of t shut shaped member 53, the le to the iavalve 9: h I have deevice for completely open and completely shut positions of the valve couple 35-37 and corresponding to fully open and fully shut positions of the valve 9. In certain ap lications, as, for instance, the one illustrate it is desirable to maintain the valve 9 in a more nearly balanced condition, that is, to throttle the valve more or less as may be re uired. This may be effected by a correspon in throttling of the control valve couple. The example of my invention herein shown is adapted to obtain this effect and I have herein shown the valve 41 (see Fig. 4) as adapted to approach the nozzle 43 in an oblique position as there shown and to make contact with the nozzle at one side of the seat, as shown in Fig. 5, and then to roll or swing to the osition shown in Fi 6, gradually thrott ing the exhaust port 0 the nozzle during such action. It Will be understood that in operation the extreme position of Fig. 6 maIy not be reached.

shall next describe in detail the particular mechanical construction herein shown. Referring to Fig. 3, as there seen, the nozzle 43 is mounted on a short hollow shaft 49, as in the Dixon patent referred to, which turns about the same--center line as the shaft 31 and the nozzle thus swings through radial positions about the center line of that shaft but may be adjusted to desired angular position thereabout as by means of the set lever or" hand 51 secured to shaft 49 and rojecting over the face of the instrument in proximity to the pen 33. The valve seat at the end of the nozzle 43 is referably in a plane radial to the shaft 31. The cooperating valve element 35 may comprise a U- I of which are journaled on the shaft 31 an which provides a bearing for the ep 39 coiled about that shaft, and a narrower -shaped member projectin therefrom, that face of which lies toward t e'nozzle, 43 preferably being disposed in a plane substantially radiiil to the shaft 31 for the purpose hereinafter made plain. The valve 41 me. consist Fof a light strip of metal having see Figs 5 and 6) cars 57 between'its ends pivpted to the legs of the U-shaped member 55 and its lower end proi'ects outwardly to cooperate with the nozz e 43 toward which it is pressed to a normal position oblique to the radial by means ofthe wire spring 59, one end of which finds a bearing on the crom-bar of compresse air is admitte phragm motor 11 to open the In the precedingparagra the U-shaped member 53 and the other endv of which is hooked through an eye 61 on.

the u per end of the valve strip 41. The cm or of the U-shaped member 55 may provide a stop against which the valve 41 is 6 pressed by the nozzle 43 which, as the valvecarrying element 35 moves toward the left from the position of Fig. 4, makes contact with said valve, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and

gradually presses it toward the position of 7 6. In the sition of Fig. 6 the valve 41 is in a,radia position and consequently rests flat against the radial valve seat in nozzle 43. The cross-bar of the U-shaped member 55 preferably engages valve 41 I closely adjacent the nozzle 43 so that the valve is maintained substantially rigid in the position shown. p

I shall next briefly describe the operation of the control couple with reference to Figs. 1

4, 5 and 6. The nozzle 43 may be adjusted to any desired angular position corresponding to the point where 1t is desired to have the control operate. This adjustment, which is effected by swinging the nozzle about the 1 center line of the shaft 31, will always leave the valve seat thereon in a radial plane. The parts of the cooperatin member 35 being in the position shown in center line of shaft 31 and toward. the nozzle I 43. In this movement the U-shaped member 55 in which the valve 41 is pivoted is always in a generally radial position so that if at any time the valve where moved to the position of Fig. 6 it itself would be radial. In other words, the valve member 35, consideredas a whole, is always moving along a tangent to the aloof swing perpendicular to the radial position of the valve seat and this is true whatever the relative positions of the two elements 35 and 37. As the swinging movement of the element 35 continues, the valve 41 makes contact with the nozzle 43,

as shown in Fig. 5, and upon still further movement of the valve-carrying member the nozzle gradually swings the va ve 41 against the force of spring 59 toward the radial pos prion, the valve closes on the valve seat with a swinging or rollin 'motion and in doing so gradually thrott es the escape of air through the exhaust port in the nozzle 43. If the parts reach the position of Fig. 6 and the differential pressure still increases, the crank 29 may continue its movement,

moving away from the valve-carrying member35 which remains in'theposition shown in Fig. .6. As the control mechanism comes into play, the valve-carrying member 35 swings again to the right and the reverse operation takes lace, the (port in the nozzle l3 being gradua y opene the arts, passing from the position of Fig. 6 to t e position of 1g. 4 wemay assume that the measuring instrumentality, herein I Fig. and finally to the position of Fig. 4. I It will be understood, however, that the exconditlon of the controlle treme positions may not be called for under many conditions and that the relative posir tion of the parts will represent some variation of the general position shown in Fig. 5 with the exhaust port more or less throttled, producing a corres onding throttled valve 9. I'have already pointed out that the construction is such that the operation of the parts as the valves meet one another is the same whatever the angular positions of the two couples about the center line. This permits the organization of the parts for swinging movement about a common center line with its many advantages, among which may be mentioned the adaptability to or niza-- tion in a combined recorder-controll'e structure, as illustrated in Fig. 1,in which a record of the variable in question, herein the differential pressure, is recorded by pen 33 on the usual polar chart.

Suitable means may be provided for adjusting the normal position of the valve 41,

' that is, the angularity thereof relative to the instrument, whereas if -such part were ex-- posed at the front or back of'the element 35, that is, either in a direction toward the crank or in a direction toward the element 37, it would bemuch less convenient of access.

'The adjusting means here shown takes the form of an eccentric or cam'63 adapted to bear against the'upper'en'd of the valve strip 41 to swing it counterclockwise against the action of spring 59. This eccentric is mounted on an arbor 65 having hearings in the sides'of the valve-carrying frame which is herein shown as extended for that pur ose swing, may be formed as an enlarged head by means of a U-shapedstra 67, the e of which are secured'to the egs=of the .55 in a relatively perpendicular plane. One

end of the arbor 65, that nearer the reader in Fig. 4 and toward the front of the instrument and at one side of'the general lane in which .the elements of the contro couple 69 as shown in Fig. 4, which may be-provided with a screw-driver'slot'by which the cam maybe turned to swing'the valve 41 to the desired initial position. 4 It will be obvious that a' screw-dr ver may be very readily inserted from the front of the instrument, as shown in Fig. 2, to effect this adjustment; A suitable detent maybe utilized for holding the cam 63in ad usted position and I- ent. v

' I have described in detail the illustrative embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings 1n have herein shown a V-shaped spri n wedge 71 which is pressed into position tween arbor 65 and the web of the U-shaped member 67 and thus forms a'frictional detent resisting movement of the arbor 65 but ermittin it to be turned intentionally. 0 arm '0 the spring which, bears against the shaft 65 may be interposed between the side face of the cam 63 and the adjacent leg of the U-shaped member 69 and may thus cooperate wlth' the head 69 in positioning the arbor. Thus, movement of the arbor with its cam away from-the reader in Figs. 4,

5and 6 is revented by the head 69 while movement t ereof toward the reader is prevented by' the arm of the spring 61 interposed-between thele 9f the U and the side of the cam. One 0 the legs of the U 67 may be extended asjindicated at 73 to. provide a bearing to be engaged by the crank 29 so that the latter does not interfere with the valve 41.

In the case of an instrument like that described wherein the controlling fluid is under positive pressure, the exhaust issues from the port in the nozzle 43 as a jet, blowing against the valve 41 as the latter approaches it With the arrangement shown wherein the valve approaches an olflique position and rolls shut the difliculties sometlmes arising from this condition are obviated.

I have described the construction herein shown wherein the valve-carrying member 35, is automatically moved inaccordance with the fluctuations of a .variable and wherein the meinber'37 is manually. adjusted but it is obvious that it is the relative movement I rate of flow of the fluid but the control may I be in response to any other variable, as, for instance, the control of temperature con,- ditions asin an installation similar tothat shown in my Patent No. 1,405,181, J anuary 31, 1922. I have also described an installation wherein the fluid which operates the servo-motor 11 is under positive pressure but. the invention may be embodied in installations wherein the servo-motor operates under negative pressure or vacuum as in said patorder that the rinciples exem lified thereby. in one'partic ar form mig t be readily unde and not because the details so fully herein described are essential as obviously he construction and arrangement of arts ght be Widely varied without departmg from the principles of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent Ishall express in thefollowin claims:

1. en instrument of the class described a pair of control elements mounted for relative movement through swinging movement about an axis and comprising. aported clue:

said elements, and a valve carried by said second member and yieldably projecting therefrom at an angle to the radial.

3. In an instrument of the class described a a control couple comprising a ported member arranged to swing about a center line and having a substantially radial seat, a cooperating member adapted to swing about the same line, a device responsive to the fluctuations of a variable to-move one of said elements, and a valve carried by said second member and yieldably projecting therefrom at'an angle to the radial, said memberproviding a stopsupporting the valve in a radia position when displaced by the ported member.

4. In an instrument of the class described a control couple comprising a ported member arranged to svvin about a center line and having a substantially radial seat, a cooperating member adapted to swing about the same line, a device responsive to the fluctuations of a variable to move one of said elements, and a valve movably carried by said second member and adapted first to make contact laterally with said ported member-and then to swing or roll into position, closing the same on continued approach of said elements. 7

5. In an instrument of the class described a control couple comprising a control elemcnt having a valve seat and a cooperating element, the two being arranged to approach perpendicularly in the operation of the couple, said second element carrying a valve yieldingl projecting obliquely from one side of tiepath of approach.

In an instrument of the class described a control couple comprising a ported element and a cooperating element carrying a flap valve, and means to move said elements together and apart constantly with the fluctuations of a variable, said valve being 1 yieldably extended obliquely to the path 0 approach.

In an instrument of the class described a ported element, a cooperating element carrying a valve, means to move said eleof the path .of approach, means normally yieldably holding said valve obliquely and means to adjust the angle of the valve.

8. In an instrument of the class described a ported element, a cooperating element carrying a valve, means to move said elements together and apart, said valve being pivoted to its carrying element at one side of the path of approach, means normally yieldably holding said valve obliquely and stop means for the valve when it is dis placed b said ported elementto a position substantially normal to said path.

9. In an mstrument'of the class described a ported element, a cooperating valve-carrying element, means to move said elements together and apart, a valve yieldably romally extending obliquely thereto and means on said second element adjustable to change the normal angle of the valve relatively thereto. l

10. In an instrument of the class described a ported element, a cooperating valve-carrying element, means to move said elements together and apart, a valve yieldably r0- jecting from said carrying element rom one side of the path of approach and normally extending obliciluely thereto and a device on said element avmg a manipulating portion presented at the side whereby it may be adjusted to change the normal angle of the valve relatively thereto.

ll. In a structure of the class described a movable. frame, a valve carried thereby and normally resiliently projecting obliquely therefrom and a cam bearing agamst the valve having a shaft. journalled in the frame with one end iprojecting laterally for manipulation thereo 12. In a structure of the class described a movable frame, a valve carried thereby and'normally resiliently projecting obliquely therefrom, a cam bearing against the valvehaving a shaft journalled in the frame with one end projecting laterally for manipulation thereof and a detent comprising a spring interposed-betwen said shaft an a portion of the frame.

13. In a structure of the class described a movable frame, a valve carried thereby and normally resiliently projecting oblique ly therefrom, a cam bearing against the valve, a shaft for the cam journalled in said frame having at one end a head exter: nal to the frame and formed to receive a rotating means and a detent com rising a spring compr between said s aft and a portion'of the frame and also lying adjacent said shaft between a side of the cam and: another portion of the frame and co- 1 gfiierating with said head to position the journalled in the frame and bearing against 0 aft. I 4 the other 'end of the strip whereby to ad- 14. In a structure of the class described just the osition thfireof and means accesa movable frame,-a strip'one end of which sible at-t e side of the frame for turning 5 forms a valve pivoted to the frame between the cam,

its ends, a spring normally projecting saidi In testimony whereof, I have signed my ll end obliquely outward, saldjrame provid- 'paineto this specification. ing asto for said stri when displaced against t e action of t e spring, a cam EDGAR H. BRISTOL. 

